WPS Held International Draft This Week

Women’s Professional Soccer League (WPS) is well on its way to making a reappearance to our cities (exciting!). This week was the first step in that process, as the league underwent its first international draft.

Each team was allowed to draft four international players, providing teams with the opportunity to begin a formal negotiation process with each selected player upon receiving permission from that player’s current club. For the 2009 season, teams will ultimately be allowed to sign up to five international players per roster. The results of the draft included the selection of 10 players from Brazil, four from Japan, three from Australia and three from Canada.

Below is a snapshot of what happened at the international draft. I provided links to each team’s Web site, so I highly encourage you to check out a team that’s nearby. Season tickets are not that expensive, and this will be an exciting season to watch. I will (for sure) be following the Washington Freedom (my local team).

WPS Initial International Draft – Assignment of WPS-Playing Rights (in order of selection)

1st Round
Bay Area: Formiga (Brazil)
Boston Breakers: Kelly Smith (England)
Los Angeles: Marta (Brazil)
St. Louis: Daniela (Brazil)
Trade with Washington
Chicago Red Stars: Cristiane (Brazil)
Washington Freedom: Homare Sawa (Japan)
Trade with St. Louis
Sky Blue FC (NJ/NY): Sarah Walsh (Australia)

2nd Round
Bay Area: Christine Sinclair (Canada)
Boston Breakers: Fabiana (Brazil)
Los Angeles: Aya Miyama (Japan)
Washington Freedom: Sonia Bompastor (France)
Chicago Red Stars: Heather Garriock (Australia)
St. Louis: Renata Costa (Brazil)
Sky Blue FC (NJ/NY): Rosana (Brazil)
3rd Round
Bay Area: Eriko Arakawa (Japan)
Boston Breakers: Maycon (Brazil)
St. Louis: Lotta Schelin (Sweden)
Trade with LA 4th Rd
Washington Freedom: Lisa De Vanna (Australia)
Chicago Red Stars: Karen Carney (England)
St. Louis: Melissa Tancredi (Canada)
Sky Blue FC (NJ/NY): Ester (Brazil)

4th Round
Bay Area: Erika (Brazil)
Boston Breakers: Shinobu Ohno (Japan)
Los Angeles: Han Duan (China)
Washington Freedom: Louisa Nécib (France)
Chicago Red Stars: Caroline Jonsson (Sweden)
Los Angeles: Margret Lara Vidarsdottir (Iceland)
Trade with St. Louis 3rd Rd.
Sky Blue FC (NJ/NY): Kelly Parker (Canada)

This is really cool stuff, and I’m so glad they’re bringing in international talent. This will make for an exciting season!

For more information on WPS, visit their Web site.

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